predecessor White House Benjamin Netanyahu’s son Yair Netanyahu, who lives in Miami, may be at risk of being kidnapped as international tensions continue to escalate, people familiar with the matter said.
Howard Stoffer, an international affairs expert with 25 years of experience in the U.S. government, warned that Yair must take security measures seriously amid questions about why he did not join the Israel Defense Forces like his compatriots.
The 34-year-old is reportedly doing “non-profit charity work” Florida. At the same time, some 360,000 reservists were drafted into the Israeli army to fight Iran, temporarily giving up other obligations.
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Why is Yair a “vulnerable target”?
Professor Stover said Yair would become a “vulnerable target” if he remained in the United States. “I don’t understand how he could be in the United States and not be an extremely vulnerable target for attack or kidnapping.”
He continued, “If he came to New York or spoke at some public forum, I wouldn’t go because I think that’s a potential target for some angry people out there.”
He believes that from Israel’s perspective, Yair’s continued presence in the United States is “a huge mistake” because he failed to serve and fulfill his military obligations.
“I think it’s a huge mistake from an Israeli perspective and from the symbolic perspective of him not serving in the military and fulfilling his duties,” he said.
He further added: “It would be quite dramatic if the son of the Prime Minister of Israel was taken away.”
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Protect the Shin Bet or Mossad
Stover believes it would be “foolish” for Yair to remain in the United States unless he was protected by the Shin Bet or Israeli intelligence. Mossad.
“I think it’s foolish for him to come here. He should be doing his job in Israel and the prime minister’s family, more than anyone else, should be part of the defense of the country,” he said.
According to the Daily Express, Israeli soldiers were angry about the situation because they believed Yair should be helping the war effort.
“Yair was enjoying life in Miami Beach and I was on the front lines,” a soldier stationed on Israel’s northern border told The Times in London.
The Shin Bet admitted it was responsible for the security of Netanyahu’s wife and son, but it was unclear whether protection would continue while Yair was in the United States.
